Test: Volkswagen Beetle 1300, arrived from the Sahara

In 1957, the VW Beetle They expanded their range with the variant powered by a more powerful engine, 1.285 cm³ and 40 hp. The unit we test belongs to this type, a Volkswagen Beetle 1300 that actually has recovered his original Sahara plate, where it was registered in El Aaiún in April 1967. A registration that will be able to show off without problems thanks to the future Historic Vehicle Regulations.

Until the beginning of 1957, they had already been manufactured in Wolfsburg since 1945 just over 1.342.000 units of the Volkswagen Beetle. This figure, certainly extraordinary at the time, was due to the price of the model and its construction quality. On the other hand, Large-scale production favored the decrease in price. As an example, from the 5.625 German marks that a Volkswagen cost in 1949, it dropped to 1957 marks in 4.500, despite the usual increase in the cost of living.

As if that were not enough, the primitive 1.131 cm engine³ and 25 HP gave way since 1954 to a 1.192 cm propeller³ and 30 HP, which in the export units increased its maximum power to 1960 HP since 34. In addition, From 1965 the range was expanded for foreign markets with the 1300 variant, equipped with the aforementioned 1.3 engine. Furthermore, in August 1966, the 1500 version was marketed, which has a mechanics of 1.493 cm.³ and 44 HP of power.

The unit that appears in the images It is manufactured in the spring of 1967, so it has many small improvements introduced since, in 1957, the Volkswagen Beetle They went from having a panoramic rear window instead of an oval one. Among them, greater soundproofing, the magnetic plug in the gearbox crankcase to retain chips, turn signal lights with a larger surface area, a gasoline level indicator in the tank and improvements in the heating.

A VERY STUDY ENGINE

A review of the technical sheet is enough to verify that this 4-cylinder air-cooled boxer engine that this model has achieves little power in relation to its displacement. Of course, 40 HP are only a few for 1.300 cm³. However, it must be taken into account that with air cooling you get less power than when you have a liquid cooling circuit. And to this is added that its compression ratio is only 7,3:1, a figure that favors its longevity.

In the same way, its only single-body carburetor and a central camshaft that delivers its greatest power at 4.000 revolutions They are designed so that the engine has a long life, more than to achieve high speeds and lightning accelerations. For its part, The frame is designed to roll more quietly, since it is a steel platform with a central beam, which is bolted to the body and does not obtain anywhere near the structural solidity of a monocoque body.

On a walk around the car, The absence of a grille draws attention to the front, due to the rear position of the engine, as well as the chrome molding with the brand's initials, located in the raised area of ​​the trunk lid. Also curious is the vertical handle that allows you to lift the trunk lid, which The owner of this unit prefers to keep it in used condition., including scratches and dents.

Likewise, The long distance lighthouse located on the right side is picturesque the Volkswagen Beetle from the test. Thanks to its presence, nighttime visibility is gained, given the limited power of the main headlights, and it is protected by the bumper stop. And on the right fin, some wounds already sanded and repaired, but unpainted, are visible, while in the highest area the orange turn signal stands out. We also look at the metal handle on the right door, which It has its own lock provided with a push button. There is also a hole to accommodate your fingers while pressing the aforementioned button, before pulling to open the door.

WE CONTINUE THE RODEO TO THE BODYWORK

We put our eyes on a wheel, on whose chrome hubcap the letters VW are stamped. As for the tire, its size is 165/80 R 15, similar in size to the 5.60-15 diagonal rubber that this model came with from the Wolfsburg factory. We are also attracted to detail on the rear side windows, which have a compass opening system. Thanks to this mechanism, passengers in the rear seats can also renew the interior air.

Already in the rear area, the striking Sahara plate has a ceiling on top which houses the bulbs that illuminate the license plate when the lights are turned on at night. Below is the hood lock and above is the VW1300 trim. For its part, the curved rear window has an accessory that would be very appreciated in the Sahara. Is about curtains that protect from the sun's rays and they slightly help reduce the heat inside the cabin.

We then observe the optical group on the right side, which protrudes from the fin and is formed from bottom to top by a retro-reflector, the red position and stop lights and the orange turn signal. We complete the lap with our eyes fixed on the right exterior mirror, installed later and easy to find thanks to the large existence of accessories that currently exist for this mass production car.

A REVIEW OF HIS LIFE

Our protagonist He arrived in March 1967 in the then Spanish province of the Sahara. and it was registered in the name of a couple residing in Villa Cisneros, whose names were Benito and Victoriana. In November 1971, this couple moved their residence to Madrid and took their Volkswagen, which He circulated normally through the streets and highways of his new destination with his Sahrawi license plate.. Of course, they had to pay import customs duties, an amount not exaggerated given that it was a four-year-old car. Furthermore, his move to Alcorcón in December 1973 appears in the documentation.

Meanwhile, the car kept its license plate and did so until March 1976, when by the Order of February 3 its owners had to proceed to replace the registration with a new one from Madrid, with the letters BF. Since then, its next administrative change occurred in 2019. That year it was purchased by Patxi, a classic enthusiast living in Vitoria, who discovered its past in the Sahara and began processing its documentation as a historic vehicle. Once the process is done, It shows off its old license plate and the VH sticker, although the registration certificate of the historic vehicle appears on the registration certificate with its four numbers and three letters.

As it is a car whose engine is located behind the rear axle, If we open the front cover we find the trunk. It has a capacity of 130 liters, since the fuel tank and the spare wheel are located in that area. In addition, behind the rear seat there is also a luggage compartment with another 100 liters. Without a doubt, it is responsible for increasing the volume, but even with everything It is necessary to use a roof rack if it is necessary to transport a considerable load.

THE HOOD, BACK

We continue to discover the Volkswagen Beetle from our test. Pressing the lock button and with the rear hood raised, a truly unique powerplant is visible, whose pulleys and other components prevent us from seeing that we are dealing with an opposed four-cylinder engine. Above and in the center is the air filter housing, above the Solex carburetor. Around it, tubes conduct the heating air, all in the company of a turbine responsible for air cooling the engine.

The engine lubrication circuit also performs the same task. Its crankcase has a capacity of 2,5 liters of oil, while The proper functioning of this mechanism is vital for the propellant to have a long life.. Likewise, for these engines to last, it is necessary to take care of the maintenance, which requires changing the oil every 5.000 km, as well as checking that its level is always close to the maximum.

WE ENTER THE ROOM

When we open the driver's door, we see in the foreground the seat upholstered in imitation leather and with a fairly simple architecture, whose backrest and bench are practically flat. In turn, the steering column rises straight to the steering wheel. The metal dashboard, symmetrical in shape, is painted in the same color as the body and has an elementary design. The instrumentation consists of a speedometer graduated up to 140 km/h and also has a fuel level gauge.

For its part, the black plastic steering wheel has a chrome semicircle that acts as a horn. And at the core of the steering command shows the coat of arms of the German city of Wolfsburg, where these passenger cars have been manufactured since 1945. The dashboard also has a small central ashtray, a glove box with a lid and a grab handle for the passenger, a sign of the time when cars still did not have seat belts.

It also has a device for Clarion brand radio, provided with presets. In fact, the first owner had it installed as soon as he acquired this copy, with the particularity that it is still working 57 years later. A look back and we look at the rear seat, which has ample volume for the occupants and enough distance in the area where the legs rest. And behind, the aforementioned additional space that allows more additional luggage to be accommodated.

THE TEST OF THE VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE 1300

After turning the ignition key and activating the starter motor, the engine begins to emit its first explosions with a distant and rhythmic sound. It's time to engage first gear and start a journey of about 8 kilometers at a leisurely pace. Handling this car requires effort, both to move the steering when the car is stationary and when operating each control. On the contrary, the gear lever boasts a precise touch that does not require enormous force.

When we arrive at the planned place, The photo session begins and we see the car with different eyes. Its round shapes and chrome give it an image of seniority, combined with an aesthetic recognizable even by the least knowledgeable people. Although it has austere equipment, it has materials designed to resist use and the passage of time, added to the fact that the large number of manufactured and surviving units makes it easy to find parts that have been damaged.

We set off again on a local road and We immediately rolled in 4th gear at 80 km/h, comfortable speed that maintains smoothly on the flat. On the April morning, the heat prevailing inside invited us to roll down the window a little. At that cadence, this Volkswagen conveys the feeling of being able to move forward forever, without any precautions other than checking the amount of gasoline in the tank and having made sure in advance of the correct tire pressure.

ROLLING ON CURVING ROADS

We continue the test route of the VW Beetle in a curvy area, where it is noted that the direction is imprecise due to its screw and sector mechanism. On the other hand, the body leans little and the car goes where it is told, at least on dry, smooth asphalt. However, On bumpy roads the suspension bounces and becomes uncomfortable, so it invites you to follow the route at a slower pace. And when you roll again on good asphalt, the acceptable comfort of the suspension and a satisfactory ride are recovered.

As for the brakes, the four drums of 230 millimeters in diameter They are more than adequate in relation to the engine power and performance of this model. Only when descending a demanding pass will it be necessary to hold back and act with caution. In any case, We are looking at a light car designed to be used by all types of people.. Perhaps for this reason, driving it does not require too many demands and its basic virtues compensate for the lack of dizzying acceleration.

Also we have avoided entering a highway, type of road on which this Volkswagen can run on the flat at the maximum authorized speed, because the noise caused by the boxer engine becomes too high. In that same line, driving it in the city is possible and attracts the attention of pedestrians, but it is much more pleasant to use it on the lonely roads that we choose for the photo session. At a tourist pace, you enjoy it more.

IN CONCLUSION

Easy to identify by the characteristic style of its bodywork, This Volkswagen Beetle 1300 protagonist of our test was manufactured in 1967, precisely the year in which its production of 925.787 units made it exceed 10 million copies built.

Such production capacity, increased with cars manufactured in Brazil, Mexico and thirteen other countries, made Until its cessation in 2003, a total of 21.529.464 units were built since its start of manufacturing in 1945.. And despite such an overwhelming amount, it is nice to find this specific car, registered in a Spanish city that stopped being so almost 49 years ago.

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APPENDIX 1: VOLKSWAGEN KARMANN-GHIA, A BEAUTIFUL ALTERNATIVE

In 1953, the Italian designer Luigi Segre began to make in the Turin workshop a coupe based on the Volkswagen Beetle platform. Already in July 1955, the coupe version of the car was presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, powered by the 1.192 cm engine³ and 30 CV. Thanks to its better aerodynamics, reaches a maximum speed of 118 km / h.

On sale for 7.500 marks, This attractive coupe was much more expensive than a Volkswagen Beetle, whose Export version price was set at 4.600 marks. On the other hand, it was well received in the market and from September 1957 the range was expanded with the appearance of the cabriolet version. Since then, production increased to 5.000 units per year and was commercially successful in the United States, a country to which a good percentage of the cabriolet body examples were exported.

In parallel with the model from which it is derived, the Karmann Ghia, they began to incorporate the 1300, 1500 and 1600 engines at the same time, until their production ceased in July 1974. In total, 364.401 coupes and 80.837 cabriolets were built.

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THE SH REGISTRATION

Starting with 1884, The province of Sahara was part of Spanish territory, due to its strategic interest in the maritime routes to Equatorial Guinea and its fishing wealth. And for registration purposes, Since September 30, 1929, ME was used as the plate of Spanish Morocco, a space much larger than that of Western Sahara itself.

This registration remained in force until April 7, 1956, when the area became independent from Spain and France to form the Kingdom of Morocco. Then The SHA registration already existed since January 25, 1951, applicable to vehicles registered in the Spanish Sahara. However, was abbreviated to SH by an Order of June 20, 1961. The SH license plate was used for almost twenty years. And, after the Order of February 3, 1976 that annulled it, there was a period in which vehicles with an SH plate continued to be seen in the rest of Spain.

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 Classic Lane photographs.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 1300 VOLKSWAGEN 1967
Motor	longitudinal rear
Displacement	1.285 cm3
Cylinders	4 boxer
Diameter x stroke	77 x 69 mm
Maximum power	40 CV to 4.000 rpm
Maximum torque	87,2 Nm to 2.000 rpm
Meals	Solex 30 PICT Carburetor
Compression ratio	7,3:1
Distribution	Center camshaft
Fuel Efficiency:	Petrol
Traction	Rear
Gearbox	Four-speed manual + ma
Clutch	Single dry disc, with mechanical control
Chassis	Steel platform with central beam
Bodywork	Berlina (five seats)
Front suspension	Independent, with overlapping arms, transverse torsion bars and telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers
Rear suspension	Independent, with oscillating axle shafts, torsion bars and telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers
Director	Screw and sector
Truck Brake Repair	Drums, with hydraulic control
Length/width/height	4.070 / 1.540 / 1.500 mm
Ways	1.305/1.360 mm
Battle	2.400 mm
Shot put	800 kg
Tires	4 x 15 "
Tires	5.60-15
Deposit	40 liters
Consumption	8,5 l / 100 km
Trunk	280 liters
Maximum speed	122 km/h
Weight / power ratio	20 kg / CV
year of presentation	1957
years of production	1957-1967
year unit tested	1967
Units produced	7.747.361 (1300 engine)